Second Semester Requirements- Please Read! Syllabus and Assignments

Marking Period Requirements for Credit in this Course

You have lots of choices in this class: Public Speaking, Urban Debate Participation, Participation in Public Speaking Contests, and focusing on Academic Language Development /Communication Skill Building.

The emphasis on writing and presenting your own material as a public speech requires use of Business English and Academic Language and addresses all content standards: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. We will specifically focus:

1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies
Students formulate adroit judgments about oral communication. They deliver focused and coherent presentations of their own that convey clear and distinct perspectives and solid reasoning. They use gestures, tone, and vocabulary tailored to the audience and purpose.

Comprehension
1.1           Formulate judgments about the ideas under discussion and support those judgments with convincing evidence.
1.2           Compare and contrast the ways in which media genres (e.g., televised news, news magazines,  documentaries, online information) cover the same event.

Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication
1.3           Choose logical patterns of organization (e.g., chronological, topical, cause and effect) to inform and   to persuade, by soliciting agreement or action, or to unite audiences behind a common belief or    cause.
1.4           Choose appropriate techniques for developing the introduction and conclusion (e.g., by using literary quotations, anecdotes, references to authoritative sources).
1.5           Recognize and use elements of classical speech forms (e.g., introduction, first and second transitions, body, conclusion) in formulating rational arguments and applying the art of persuasion        and debate.
1.6           Present and advance a clear thesis statement and choose appropriate types of proof (e.g., statistics, testimony, specific instances) that meet standard tests for evidence, including credibility,   validity, and relevance.
1.7           Use props, visual aids, graphs, and electronic media to enhance the appeal and accuracy of  presentations.
1.8           Produce concise notes for extemporaneous delivery.
1.9           Analyze the occasion and the interests of the audience and choose effective verbal and nonverbal

1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions

Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions.

Grammar and Mechanics of Writing
1.1        Identify and correctly use clauses (e.g., main and subordinate), phrases (e.g., gerund, infinitive,      and participial), and mechanics of punctuation (e.g., semicolons, colons, ellipses, hyphens).
1.2        Understand sentence construction (e.g., parallel structure, subordination, proper placement of        modifiers) and proper English usage (e.g., consistency of verb tenses).
1.3       Demonstrate an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar, paragraph and sentence structure, diction, and syntax.

Manuscript Form
1.4           Produce legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct use of the conventions of  punctuation and capitalization.
1.5           Reflect appropriate manuscript requirements, including title page presentation, pagination, spacing and margins, and integration of source and support material (e.g., in-text citation, use of direct quotations, paraphrasing) with appropriate citations.

1.0 Writing Strategies

Students write coherent and focused essays that convey a well-defined perspective and tightly reasoned argument. The writing demonstrates students' awareness of the audience and purpose. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.

Organization and Focus
1.1           Establish a controlling impression or coherent thesis that conveys a clear and distinctive    perspective on the subject and maintain a consistent tone and focus throughout the piece of writing.
1.2           Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate modifiers, and the active rather than the passive voice.

Research and Technology
1.3           Use clear research questions and suitable research methods (e.g., library, electronic media, personal interview) to elicit and present evidence from primary and secondary sources.
1.4           Develop the main ideas within the body of the composition through supporting evidence (e.g.,cenarios, commonly held beliefs, hypotheses, definitions).
1.5           Synthesize information from multiple sources and identify complexities and discrepancies in the      information and the different perspectives found in each medium (e.g., almanacs, microfiche, news sources, in-depth field studies, speeches, journals, technical documents).

2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

Students deliver polished formal and extemporaneous presentations that combine the traditional rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description. Student speaking demonstrates a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0.

The ONLY EXCEPTION TO COMPLETION OF ASSIGNMENTS BELOW ARE FOR STUDENTS OF ANY GRADE LEVEL WHO ATTENDED REGULAR URBAN DEBATE PRACTICE AND COMPETES IN ALL SECOND SEMESTER TOURNAMENTS. (Sign off by Tonia of Urban Debate)

Basic Requirements for the final Semester include the following:

For Seniors Only-ALL of the assignments listed below Required:

(10) completed scholarship applications each marking period.

Proof of itemized Senior Project Work and Practice signed by Dr. Taylor each marking period.

Public Practice of Oral Senior Project Presentation

and (5) Public Speeches each Marking Period to be given in Drama class using the topic selections below.

2 Persuasive Speeches

1 Informative Speech

1 Demonstration Speech

1 Motivational Speech

Persuasive topics for public speaking speech writing and speech class assignments

Seniors-Select two for each Marking Period. Topics.

ALL other students- select (5) Persuasive topics- essay and speech required.

You must WRITE, turn in your written draft, and present a 2-3 minute speech using only NOTE CARDS. Your speech

must contain researched facts and examples to substantiate your position.

Cheating Is Not Unacceptable!

Downloading copyrighted MP3s is wrong

Vanity is not a valid reason for cosmetic plastic surgery

Gay couples should be/should not be allowed to marry

Zero tolerance is a useful instrument to prevent violence

Life begins at conception/begins at birth. Or come up with another stage and develop a different persuasive speech topic

The rich pay/don't pay enough taxes

Society is/is not falling apart

We are better off today than eight years ago

Fast food causes obesity

The Three Srikes you're out law works/doesn't work

Space Exploration Benefits Our World/costs too much

Supernatural activity exists/doesn't exist

A higher energy price is a sacrifice we have to make for cleaner fuels

Sex offenders should be/should not be castrated

Women are not/are fairly portrayed in the media

Uniforms should be/should not be required in public schools

Vulgar language during primetime TV is not okay

Women should/should not rule the world

Human cloning is bad / or is good.

Metal Detectors In Schools Violate Students' Rights. Vary with different security methods for another persuasive speech topic

College education is a basic need

Persuade the homeless to look for work

Parents are/are not responsible for what their children see on TV

Prejudice will always be a part of society

Princess Diana's death was not/was a tragic accident

We are killing the rainforest

Sports people are/are not our Role models

Water pollution is the World's biggest problem

People are less moral than 30 years ago

Child Protective Service Agencies are/are not necessary

Don't carry a gun to protect yourself

Gambling should be made illegal

Honesty, integrity and a persuasive mentality are the most important qualities of an elected official

Home schooling provides a better education/is worse for your child

Animals don't belong in zoos

Being grounded is/is not the worst form of punishment

Executions should be/ should not be carried out in public

Smokers have/ don’t deserve rights

Topic of your own choosing

The Informative Speech- seniors select 1- all other students select (2) each Marking Period.

Use these speech writing selection criteria for picking out good topics of my list below. Select a few informative speech topics you know a lot about, topics you want to learn more about. The audience feels when you are not enthusiastic and halfheartedly. Ask yourself: Is there something I love to talk about? Do I have developed special skills in my personal or professional life?

You are able to inform your audience when you really understand what they like and how you have to get your listeners enthusiastic about your topic. Explain them why this good informative speech topic is appropriate and how they can implement your information in their personal or professional lives. Even informative speech topics they have never heard of can be developed into subjects they like to hear you talking about. The main questions for picking out good informative speech topics are:

• What are their wishes, tastes, interests and needs?
• What is their level of education and knowledge about the topic?
• Is their a common ground between you and your audience?
• Is their a relation with their habits or usual procedures?
• Can you surprise them with new information?
• Can you excite their interest by expanding on what your listeners already know?

Are you having trouble coming up with speech topics? This list of informative speech topics is only meant to stimulate your thinking. Of course many of these subjects are too broad and will need to be narrowed. Be sure to apply all the guidelines I described above!

Advertising, Anthropology, Antique, Applied Sciences, Archaeology, Architecture, Aromatherapy, Artificial Intelligence, Arts, Astrology, Astronomy, Aviation, Backpacking, Beauty, Biographies, Biology, Bird Flu, Books, Cheerleading, Chemistry, Children, Cities, Climate, Communication, Cooking, Business, Cars, Celebrities, Culture, Dancing, Demographics, Design, Ecology, Economics, Education, Engineering, Entertainment, Ethnic Groups, Etiquette, Europe, Family, Fashion, Finance, Food, Games, Geography, Government Hiking, History, Home, Industries, International Organizations, International Relations, Labor, Languages, Law, Lifestyles, Literature, Manufacturing, Maps, Martial Arts, Mass Media, Medicine, Military, Movements, Movies, Museums, Music, Mysteries, Mythology, Myths, National Parks, Nature, News, People, Performing Arts, Personal Life, Pets, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Popular Culture, Psychology, Radio, Reference, Religions, Science, Society, Sociology, Space, Sports, Sports Events, Technology, Telecommunications, Television, Tourism, Toys, Travel.

The Motivational Speech- Seniors- select 1- all other students, select (2) each Marking Period.

The aim of the motivational speech is to get your audience acting or changing their behavior or beliefs in some way. Try to strengthen commitment and at least get them to agree with your proposal. This kind of public speaking is mainly based on a question of policy. So, build in emotional appeals in your motivational speech, as well as evidence and reasoning.

Examples:
Ask them to donate money towards a charity organization.
Persuade them to increase their personal productivity.

Patterns For Motivational Speech Topics

Choose for one of the popular patterns to write your motivational speech topics: the Monroe's Motivated Sequence or the Comparative Advantages Pattern. Anyway, choose a pattern that relates your viewpoints to the demographic and knowledge of your public, the needs and interests of your audience and the occasion.

The Monroe's Motivated Sequence Speech Topics

This pattern is very useful to elaborate on motivational speech topics.

ATTENTION

Get the attention of your public. State the importance of your specific angle of approach. List the main benefits to arouse interest.

NEED

State the need for change. Show why it should concern them. Relate the issue or problem to the values, attitudes, interests and needs of the listeners.

SATISFACTION

Satisfy their needs. Provide the details and interesting facts of your plan. Show how your solution works.

VISUALIZATION

Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of your motivational speech topic. Illustrate them with examples, anecdotes, comparisons, statistics, definitions and visual aids. Show successful implementation in other organizations. Tell your public what's in it for them.

ACTION

Call to action. Show them what to do to implement your plan.

Many students use this outline for motivational speech topics since Alan Monroe invented it 70 years ago. You can use this motivated sequence speech writing strategy also if you want to persuade to agree there is no need for change or action, because there is no problem. If it comes to that, then convince your public that the solutions to a non-existing problem are not practical and that they precisely cause problems.

Comparative Advantages Pattern

This pattern looks like the one for motivated sequence speech topics and is often used for business presentations. The big difference occurs in the satisfy and visualization steps. In those steps you have to compare and contrast two or more plans, solutions or alternatives. Show your listeners which one is the best. Example motivational speech topic: Compare and contrast two cell phones and tell which one is the best one for your job or personal life and why.

Generate Ideas For Motivational Speech Topics

Below you'll see a list of general categories that can be narrowed to a topic for a motivational speech. Scroll down, use your imagination and elaborate on these topics. These examples are meant to motivate you to create motivational speech topics yourself! To help you in the right direction:

• What do you want to achieve?
• What behavior are you trying to change?
• What level of agreement do you at least want to accomplish?

The Goal Of Your Motivational Speech Topics

Actually you have just one goal: to motivate them to act or to agree. Write down what you want them to do, and how you are going to persuade them that you are right. Phrase your goal in a declarative statement, in a way that will motivate. There are two ways two create a motivational speech:

The first way is the use of the imperative mood in relation to activities, issues or problems at college, in your work environment, or in your community. Examples:

Become involved in ..., Buy ..., Change ..., Choose ..., Do ..., Donate ..., Establish ..., Join ..., Make ..., Pay ..., Quit ..., Sell ..., Sign ..., Study ..., Support ..., Take ..., Volunteer ..., Vote ...

General Themes For Motivational Speech Topics

An other way to create motivational speech topics is to relate these general themes below to personal, educational or professional activities, issues or problems.

Breakthroughs - Career Development - Challenge - Change - Coaching - Commitment - Communication - Competence - Competitiveness - Confidence - Decision Making - Discipline - Effective Meetings - Ensure Safety - Ergonomics - Focused Thinking - Future - Involvement - Inspiration - Integrity - Interpersonal Skills - Leadership - Negotiation Tactics - Personal Effectiveness - Personal Growth - Personal Improvement - Personal Productivity - Personal Wellness - Responsibility - Self Respect - Set Realistic Goals - Stress - Teambuilding - Teamwork - Trends - Values - Work Ethics

I hope I have motivated you now enough to create and write good motivational speech topics.

The Demonstration Speech

The goal of your demonstration speech could be: to demonstrate a process and give the audience information while using visual aids. Or to show how to do something, how something is done, how to make something, or how something works.

Start your speech writing process with selecting some demonstration topics. Choose for something you know about, then it will be easier to demonstrate. If you can't come up with good public speaking topics for a demonstrational presentation speech, then use the subjects listed below for inspiration. Ask yourself: Which of your choices have enough potential to offer your audience valuable information? Therefore analyze your audience. Especially for demonstration speech topics:

• Who are they - demographics?
• What are their interests?
• What do they like?
• What are their needs?

(How To Fix ...How To Use ...How To Do ...How ... Works …How ... Is Done, Produced or Made)

And try it with other verbs. Like the demonstration speech topics below. Just vary and tweak.
How:

to cook a pie - or what ever you like to cook :-)
to tie a tie
to be a vegetarian
to fix a flat tire
to create a Halloween mask
to clean your car
to play piano
to change a bank check
to play a computer game 
to organize a surprise party
to print a digital photo
 to register for voting  
to read music notes
to learn playing guitar
to build a good web site :-)
to make a fast summer salad
to build a shed
to find demonstration speech topics
to prevent injury
to develop the best serve in a tennis game  
to stop thinking
to write a business letter
to make honey  
to dry (or braid) your hair
to make a genealogical tree  
to become the president
to chair/ facilitate a meeting

...

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Grading:

A       Completion of all Assignments with full participation and effort

B       Completion of less than all (but most) assignments with less than full (but conscientious)  participation and effort

C-      Completion of some (self-selected)  assignments-avoiding challenge-with mediocre participation and effort

D/F -Failure to Meet Minimun Requirements of Course   

Failure to Complete assignments/ little or no effort or participation/ disruption of learning and   presentation process for others

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